Nancy Smyth

Nancy Smyth, President of Sunburst Software Solutions, Inc. has used and supported Intuit products and end users since 1986. I've worked with clients in a lot of different industries, however, I prefer to work with commercial and/or government construction contractors who utilize QuickBooks Financial Software for their accounting needs. Let's face it, doing bookkeeping can be pretty boring - but doing books for a construction contractor has always been my passion - there's always something "quirky" that they need or want. That's the challenge - and I love a challenge!
I've been a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor since 1999; and as President of Sunburst Software Solutions, Inc., I am a key player in the development of several QuickBooks Add-Ons for the construction industry.
I also the author of the QuickBooks for Contractors blog, in addition to the Learn to use QuickBooks in your construction business website. Join me the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 5-6 p.m. EST on Google+ for a live QuickBooks for Contractors Hangout, where an experienced panel of QuickBooks folks are available to answer your questions.

Making the move to public works construction will require planning and quite possibly a lot of changes in the way you currently run your existing construction business.
This article will provide you with some tips to help you get started; but, be aware that we cannot possibly provide you with an entire, detailed roadmap to follow.
Price: Free

Whether it's theft of money, supplies, inventory, equipment, or intellectual property, nearly every small business will experience some type of employee theft or embezzlement at one time or another.
Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to theft simply because they don't have the resources or security controls in place to stop them.
Employee theft is extremely common; unfortunately, we hear about it or read about it in the newspapers all of the time.
This article provides 9 tips for protecting your business from embezzlement as well as 8 general QuickBooks controls and procedures to help keep your business safe, request it now.
Price: Free

Developing a good method for indicating or tracking that a vendor bill is approved for payment is a difficult, but important task that every bookkeeper faces at one point or another.
This article discusses 3 possible ways to accomplish this task and still keep track of where the actual bill is - so that it does get paid on time.
Price: Free

If you are like most contractors, you probably do not think of yourself as a "computer hardware/software expert' and turn this type of project over to someone else. This unfortunately, is one of the major reasons that this type of project fails.
We hear about numerous IT type projects failing in talking with both customers and potential customers and we’ve identified what we feel are the 8 most common reasons for failure. Learn what they are and how you can overcome them.
Price: Free

Identity theft occurs when a thief uses your personal information without your permission to commit crime or fraud.
This article contains tips that you can use to protect yourself, your business, and your employees.
Price: Free

With computer technology becoming more complex and sophisticated, many business owners are hiring independent computer/IT consultants to update their existing computer systems and ensure that their business has the tools and training needed to run smoothly and efficiently.
The question is, as a business owner who is confused about more complex and sophisticated computer hardware and software -- HOW do you find a GOOD computer/IT consultant?
This article provides you with helpful tips for choosing a good consultant/IT person.
Price: Free

The end of one year/the beginning of the next year is about more than just getting ready to file your taxes, issue W-2’s, and prepare year end payroll tax returns – even though these are important items.
It is the same as when you clean out your file cabinets and pack away all the paperwork for the current/previous year; you should be cleaning out your QuickBooks Lists, making Customers, Jobs, Vendors, Employees and other name items that you no longer use -- inactive!
Price: Free

Making New Year’s resolutions should not be limited to just those for our personal life; we should include our professional life as well – after all our professional life does take a great deal of our time.
What happened this year that you felt took you off guard or left you feeling overwhelmed and unprepared?
Price: Free

Because spreadsheets are flexible and easy to use there is little to no learning curve and no need to learn anything at all about bookkeeping and accounting. Contractors frequently create spreadsheets to create and track estimates, invoices, payroll, basic job costing, financials and more. The next thing you know the business is growing and here comes the creation of more and more complex “WORK”sheets to analyze job costs.
If you are one of those folks who is still addicted to spreadsheets take the final plunge and conquer spreadsheet addiction once and for all!
Price: Free

If you want your company to truly function in a profitable way, it is critical that you set expectations for your bookkeeper before you bring them on board. Good financial records are fundamental to the success of your business. If you can not rely on your books--or your bookkeeper--then how are you going to know where your business is headed? Set these expectations for your bookkeeper so they will be a successful part of your team. You will be setting your business up for success.
Price: Free

I've been using and supporting QuickBooks products since the early 1990's. I've worked with thousands of contractors, assisting them with QuickBooks setup, Certified Payroll Reporting requirements, AIA Billing and Weighted-Average Overtime.

QuickBooks is a powerful product, but learning how to use it in your construction business can be difficult. I hope you find resources available here to be helpful.

Sunburst Software Solutions, Inc. has been an Intuit Developer Network member since 2001; first as a Premier Member and then one of the first 13 developers to achieve Gold Developer status in 2006.
QuickBooks and the Gold Developer logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Intuit Inc., displayed with permission.

Learn to use QuickBooks® in your construction business - QuickBooks® for Contractors Bookkeeping Tips & Training is part of the Sunburst Software Solutions, Inc. family of QuickBooks® related products and services.